Edinburgh Fringe Q&A: Craig Hill

Tell us a little about your show I’ve Been Sitting On This For A While. What can audiences expect?

Expect it to be different each night! My shows are always about the fun characters I find in the audience and the interaction with them. It’s so much fun to keep it spontaneous! You’ve always got your show up your sleeve but there’s nothing like an improvised moment on stage to make each night unique. I love that about the Fringe. Some people have come back several times because they know it changes so much. This year I’m going to add a couple of songs into the show and of course you just can’t stop me dancing so there’ll be plenty of that too! 

This is your 25th consecutive Edinburgh show – congratulations. Are there any years that stick in the memory for the right, or maybe the wrong, reasons?

I think the first one. I had no idea comedians usually waited a few years after doing stand-up before they did their first solo show so I just jumped in! It was all about Julie Andrews singing punk songs and was called Craig Hill’s Alive with the Sound of Music! I remember having lots of fun doing the photo shoot up Calton Hill trying to make it look like the Sound of Music album cover. That’s how I ended up wearing a kilt. It was the only way to get that silhouette. And it was the first time I realised what a buzz it was to be on every night. It’s so good for your comedy to constantly be ‘on!’ You just learn so much and it’s quite exhilarating! I can’t really believe this is my 25th year! 

How do you think the festival has changed over the years?

The main thing for me is, originally it felt like it was all over the city and even though it still is a little bit to some extent, it’s mainly focused now on the Southside. What I like about that is it’s created a buzz in that area where even if you’re not going to see a show it’s still fun to be out and about and soaking up the atmosphere. Also, it’s just grown every year it seems and I think it’s now the largest arts festival in the world which is amazing for a wee city in Scotland. 

Your first stand-up gig at the Fringe was when a friend booked you to do an open spot at Gilded Balloon in 1998. How did you react when you found out and what do you remember about the gig?

I was shocked that my friend booked the gig for me without telling me, but I was also intrigued. I knew I would never try it if someone didn’t force me to. At the time it was such a terrifying idea but I just got up and did it. I’d never felt anything like it before. It was immediately the most exciting thing I’d ever done and the most addictive. I decided from then on that you should always do things you’re absolutely terrified of, because they’re so rewarding.

I think it was a Tuesday night in a student venue at the Gilded Balloon in January or February and we all had to do four minutes each. I was on third or something and even though I was really nervous, the minute I stood on stage and got my first laugh I was hooked. 

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give a performer coming to Edinburgh for the first time?

Keep working on your show every night and use the month to get better and better. The more you’re enjoying the show the more the audience enjoy it. It sounds boring but try not to get wrecked and hungover at the beginning – you’ll need that energy on stage. (To be honest, I think most of us take a couple of years to learn that one.)

Also, don’t dread it. Look forward to it. Remind yourself, you actually like doing this, it’s not a chore. And finally, go out and see stuff that inspires you. That’s a really good way to use this month.

What’s the best show you’ve seen at the Fringe, and why?

10 Women In A One Frock Show by Geraldine McNulty at the Gilded Balloon. I worked in the Gilded Balloon box office at the time and it was the show that inspired me to do comedy. She was more of a comedy actress, but it was a one woman show and I went to see it four times! It was just such a funny piece of writing and I fell in love with the characters. I still look quote from it to this day! 

What show are you most looking forward to seeing this August?

Ray O’Leary from Australia. I saw 10 minutes of his act in Sydney in April and I really wanted to see more. I just loved his style of comedy and knew my friends would love it too. I can’t wait to see the whole show. I think it was the first ticket I booked! 

How can Edinburgh audiences keep up with you beyond the festival?

People tend to use Facebook where I post a lot but for the list of gigs my website is probably the best place: mrcraighill.com.

(P.S. I couldn’t get craighill.com because it was a real estate agent in America at the time!)